Offaly have recorded their first championship win over their neighbours Laois for the first time since 2002 in O'Moore Park this evening.
Declan Kelly's men were eight point winners and deservedly so against the Division 4 champions.
The defining moment in the game came just after the 20th minute mark when Laois were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of corner back James Kelly.
Laois were five points down and rallied somewhat after that to draw level at half time. They briefly took the lead when play resumed but then went 25 minutes without scoring as Offaly poured it on down the other end.
Offaly started this game like a train and almost had a goal from the throw in when Jack Bryant won a long ball and ended up one on one with Killian Roche but fired over.
They were four points up by the sixth minute with Bryant kicking two more frees and Dylan Hyland also scoring.
Laois finally got going with an Evan O'Carroll point but Offaly continued with scores from Lee Pearson and Dylan Hyland.
Evan O'Carroll registered his second point but then in the 20th minute, Laois were reduced to 14 men.
James Kelly won a free but reacted to Dean Hyland and referee Jerome Henry penalised him for what he adjudged to be serious foul play and sent him off.
Keith O'Neill moved the gap out to five points but Laois regroup, reset, and played much better for the remainder of the half.
Killian Roche began the fightback with a free and then pulled off a fine save to deny Eoin Carroll.
Laois then had a goal when Shaun Fitzpatrick combined with Eoin Buggie to get a shot away, which was saved by Ian Duffy, but Fitzpatrick managed to thump the rebound home.
Ruairi McNamee extended Offaly's lead to two points but Laois finished with scores from Buggie and Roche to tie it at half time - 1-5 to 0-8.
Laois briefly took the lead for the first time when play resumed as Evan O'Carroll kicked his second free but Dylan Hyland replied three minutes later.
Hyland put Offaly back ahead and then they had a goal in the 40th minute. Laois went short to Ben Dempsey with a kick out but he got turned over and the ball broke out to Keith O'Neill who rolled it into an empty net.
And it was a case of game over five minutes later when Offaly scored a second. Kieran Lillis fumbled the ball in midfield and Offaly pounced to counter attack. Jordan Hayes was played through and runs into 50 metres of space before beating Roche.
Laois didn't score again until the 60th minute and by that time, when Mark Barry pointed, Offaly led by nine points.
The game largely petered out after that. Dublin or Meath await Offaly in the Leinster semi finals while Laois head for the Tailteann Cup.
Laois: Killian Roche 0-2; Ben Dempsey, Seamus Lacey, James Kelly; Eoin Buggie 0-1, Mark Timmons, Jack Lacey; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Eoin Lowry, Shaun Fitzpatrick 1-0, Mark Barry 0-2, Evan O'Carroll 0-3 (two frees), Paul Kingston.
Subs: Danny O'Reilly for Lillis and Dylan Kavanagh for Dempsey (inj) (both 50), Niall Dunne for Kingston (54), Simon Fingleton for Timmons (65)
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson 0-1, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, John Furlong; Eoin Carroll, Jack McEvoy; Dylan Hyland 0-5 (four frees), Ruairi McNamee 0-1, Jordan Hayes 1-0; Keith O'Neill 1-3, Nathan Poland, Jack Bryant 0-3 (two frees).
Subs: Cathal Flynn for Bryant (50), Cian Farrell for Hyland (57), Jack O'Brien for McEvoy (60), Rory Egan for McNamee (62), Daire McDaid for Pearson (65)
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
